A Definition of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the study, design, creation, synthesis, manipulation, and
application of functional materials, devices, and systems through control of
matter at the nanometer scale (1–100 nanometers, one nanometer being
equal to 1 × 10−9 of a meter), that is, at the atomic and molecular levels, and the
exploitation of novel phenomena and properties of matter at that scale.


Nanotechnology can be harnessed to address some
of the world’s most critical development problems. However, to
our knowledge, there has been no systematic prioritization of applications
of nanotechnology targeted toward these challenges faced by the 5 billion
people living in the developing world. In this article, we aim to convey
three key messages. First, we show that developing countries are already
harnessing nanotechnology to address some of their most pressing needs.
Second, we identify and rank the ten applications of nanotechnology
most likely to benefit developing countries, and demonstrate that
these applications can contribute to the attainment of the United
Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Third, we propose a
way for the international community to accelerate the use of these top
nanotechnologies by less industrialized countries to meet critical sustainable
development challenges.